"Made In Dagenham" by West Bridgford Operatic Society.
The Space, Nottingham Girls High School.

The musical documents the Dagenham Ford Motor Car uprising of 1968 when the women at the plant went on strike to, initially gain equality. This then escalated to an issue over pay equality.

Apart from this, Rita also has to manage her husband, home and kids. Her son, Graham, is being caned at school, so she has this to deal with as well. This also brings her into contact with another parent, whose son is also being caned, and turns out to be a useful ally for work.

Rita O Grady, a fictional character, spearheads the dispute which almost ends her marriage, but manages to get equality on many levels after addressing the TUC conference. While there is cause for celebration, by the end of the fight, there is loss as well.

Cat Tuckey (Rita O Grady) is on fine form in every sense and brings the feisty out of Rita. Her vocals are superb, especially highlighted in the Act Two song "Nearly Had It All". The TUC speech is delivered with passion and emotion.

Rob Holsman (Eddie O Grady) is the husband pushed to the end of his tether, forcing him to make drastic decisions. You get to see a change in Eddie as the play progresses,and Rob's vocals in another emotion packed song, "The Letter", are also superb.

Jacky Tivers (Connie) plays the Shop Steward for the women who gives Rita the platform to represent the girls. When her medical condition worsens she tells Rita that she has to go to the TUC conference, a job that Connie was supposed to be doing. A lovely strong, principled character which provides Jacky the chance to show her vocals off in "Same Old Story"

Jo Hooper (Beryl) is wonderfully foul-mouthed, well the character is anyway. Much of the comedy is from Beryl just by having that common touch and being down to earth.Ballsy, bolshy and inappropriate, but with a heart of gold.

Sarah Walker-Smith (Barbara Castle) nails the accent and the fiery character - just like her hair. Love her solo in "An Ideal World".

Diana Ives (Lisa Hopkins) plays Rita's ally, and is also the wife of the Ford Plant's Managing Director, played by a smooth faced Gareth Morris. These two characters are opposites with Hopkins well and truly treating the educated Lisa as the stereotypical 1960's stay-at-home housewife.

Richard Ives (Harold Wilson) plays the lampooned PM as a clueless, sexist buffoon. Richard does comedy well, as proven in this role.

Martin Thomas (Monty) is the Shop Steward in the play who has history with Connie.

Ian Pottage (Tooley) is wonderful in his role as the American Ford Motor Company Executive. His OTT, stereotypical American, "everything is bigger and better in the States" persona extracted some booing from the audience, but only in a panto style at the end of the show. He did a cracking rendition of "This Is America", which opened Act Two.

This show has a massive male and female ensemble, doubling as some of the minor characters.

Natalie Hemington (Sandra), the dolly bird who accepts an offer to promote the new Cortina. 

Sarah Shields (Clare) who could never find the right words for what she wanted to say, Courtney Kelham-Giddy (Cass), Sean Collins (Sid - The Shop Steward), David Gyles (Bill - A Shop Steward), Alasdair Maughan (Stan), Chris Heeley (Barry/Cortina Man), Bill Cooper (Ron Macer - The Production Manager), , Chris Hollins (Gregory Hubble - Personal Director), Julie Fowler, Becky Kirkham and Danielle Rodgers (Aides to Harold Wilson), Jill Hemington (Personal Assistant to Barbara Castle), Emily Wright (Graham O Grady), Georgia Williams (Sharon O Grady), Malcolm Cocking (Mr Buckton The Schoolmaster) and James Crabtree (Chubby Chaff - the sexist club comedian).

There's then another eighteen cast members playing un-named roles.

Directed by Tom Parry, he kept the show running at a fast pace throughout. This is also thanks to the stage management by Amy Rogers-Gee, Nigel Newton and Robert Keighery.

Choreographed by Sarah Shields,and with such a large cast and ensemble, I can only imagine that this was no easy task to choreograph. the results stand up for themselves though.

Musically Directed by Sam Griffiths,so it goes without saying that the music is going to be of the highest quality. He manages to bring the best vocals out of the actors and the ensemble sections are like listening to a wall of sound, such is the power.

It's always a good sound quality at The Space, and in charge of this area is Rob Kettridge.

Lighting Design is by Nick Gale, which was executed perfectly. Now, I've never really noticed, but are there no follow spots at The Space? There were a couple of times that I thought could have benefited from having a spot on a couple of the actors, but were left in the shade.

I love this musical, mainly because of the characters and being based on true events, but for me the second Act seemed to be stronger than the first. There seemed to be more gusto and energy in Act two and that is when the production seemed to get going, and I don't know why that is.

The singing was stronger, on the whole, in the second Act, but I did love the title song, "Busy Women", "I'm Sorry I Love You", and the rousing "Everybody Out" closing the first Act. There's another big crowd pleasing anthem to close the show as well in "Stand Up".

This show, and the production of the show, will leave you with a lovely warm, fire in the belly feeling when you leave the theatre, and these songs will become ear-worms to you over the next few days, especially if this is the first time of seeing the show.

"Made In Dagenham" is at The Space at the Nottingham Girls High School until Saturday 22 February. Can you af Ford to miss such a brilliantly entertaining and strong female focused musical this week?

Pictures by Gavin Mawditt